On Friday, Nov. 3, the federal government issued the Climate Science Special Report as a key part of the fourth National Climate Assessment. This report is mandated by legislation and “is designed to be an authoritative assessment of the science of climate change, with a focus on the United States, to serve as the foundation for efforts to assess climate-related risks and inform decision-making about responses.” As such, this report provides our elected representatives with unbiased scientific information upon which to base legislation or regulation.

The report itself does not provide new surprises. It emphatically confirms what has already been recognized throughout the worldwide scientific community as fact: Climate change is occurring and is a result of human activity — principally greenhouse gas emissions. Sixteen of the warmest years on record for our planet have occurred in the last 17 years. We are already experiencing increased frequency of severe weather events (heat waves, higher-intensity storms and increased precipitation associated with storms) due to the warmer environment as predicted by climate models. The projected impacts in the future are even more ominous.

We need to immediately take steps to address the climate change problem. Our future and the future of our children and grandchildren are at stake. Our leaders in Washington should use the information that their own scientists have developed and move with urgency to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Solving this is a nonpartisan issue, and solutions that address the problem have already been proposed. For example, the Citizens Climate Lobby’s “Carbon Fee and Dividend” is a market-driven approach that would encourage a switch from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources. Please act and urge your representatives to stand up and support efforts to address climate change.

Joe Palme, Holland

Explore school choice at Dec. 4 event

A quality education opens the door to a better life. It provides the tools necessary to earn a decent living and provide for a family. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania’s education system denies too many children this opportunity. The state’s antiquated education model has trapped students in violent and poor-performing schools, effectively assigning these students to a life of economic struggle. No one should tolerate a system where only 33 percent of students in a school district can do reading at grade level. What’s the solution? It starts with school choice.

Pennsylvania needs to do more to put families, not government officials, in charge of education. This requires expanding the state’s school choice programs so that every single student has the chance to attend a successful school. The importance of school choice cannot be overstated. And it’s why the Philadelphia Chapter of America’s Future Foundation will be hosting an event on Dec 4. to explore the topic. The event is free and open to the public. For more details, visit americasfuture.org/events.

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